Update on headaches, etc....

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

First of all, I want to thank everyone for all the ideas! I did make the

doctor appt. like I promised, and went today. I told him of my headaches

and about my backaches, and tightness in the neck and shoulders. He thinks

there are several things going on.

First, he thinks I'm probably having a Fibro flare. Secondly, he feels that

since I'm not sleeping well, that it has a lot to do with the tightness and

the headaches, and that if I could get a good restorative sleep, that it

would help a lot. So, he gave me a new med for headaches, called Axert. He

says it's very similar to Zomig and Maxalt and is very easy on the tummy and

well tolerated. I told him about the Fiorcet that Sue takes, and he wants

me to take Trazodone, which is usually used as an anti-depressant, but said

he wants to use it with me at the 50 mg. level for some of it's other

properties, which supposedly includes something that will give a

relaxant-type effect as well as help me to get sleepy and stay asleep.

Here's what I found on it:

Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for IBS and other functional gut and

bodily symptoms and syndromes, even though the Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) does not specifically approve them for this purpose unless depression

is present. This is called an " off-label " indication. Nevertheless,

antidepressants can be helpful in bringing symptom relief in IBS and other

functional syndromes, such as fibromyalgia (American Journal of Medicine,

2000 Jan;108(1):65-72; Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2000

Sep;15(9):659-66). If depression is present, then a full antidepressant drug

dose is necessary. If depression is not present, then lower doses may be

effective.

At Digestive Disease Week 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia, University of North

Carolina gastroenterologist A. Drossman said that, " The use of

antidepressants in IBS and other GI disorders is growing. " When symptoms

become repetitive, severe and/or are associated with alteration in quality

of life, antidepressant drugs can be considered.

Antidepressants have effects on gut motility (contractions) and sensation

and also may have pain modulatory benefits. Antidepressant drugs are not

addictive. The following list gives examples of antidepressants in each of

three classes. Brand names are given in parentheses

Tricyclic antidepressants are effective adjuvant analgesics in a wide range

of painful conditions. Their analgesic effect is distinct from their effect

on mood. Unless contraindicated, they should be considered in most chronic

pain patients, especially in cases of neuropathic pain with continuous

dysesthesias. Side effects of these drugs help us choose them for individual

patients based on which side effects are minimized or advantageous.

Trazodone may have adjuvant analgesic properties though there is less data

supporting this. It has the advantage of fewer side effects and a better

safety profile. Fluoxetine and the other selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors have not been shown to possess analgesic effects independent of

their effect on depression.

What really surprised me, was that he also wants me to go to a chiropractor.

It's a doctor that he knows, and he feels he will be able to help me and not

hurt the EDS part of me. I told him about Mike and the discussion on

cranial-sacral therapy and also myofascial release, and he said those may be

a consideration as well, but wants me to try this doctor first. I'm to call

him in two weeks to let him know how I'm doing. He did, however, give me

another name of someone that does those (or maybe one of them and I don't

remember which one). His name is Jay Burr (Mike, this is for your sake if

you're reading this) and he used to do physical therapy at a former clinic

where my doctor worked.

I have samples of the Axert, but do not have the rx filled yet for

Trazadone. I will get it filled tomorrow and call for an appt. with the

chiropractor. I will let you all know how everything goes. I hope it

works. I guess I especially hope the med works to help me sleep, as if I

CAN go to sleep, I usually wake up 2-4 times a night. I'm always pooped the

next day. I told him I did NOT want to gain weight, and couldn't afford to,

and he said that at the 50 mg. range, I should not gain weight. We'll see I

guess.

Thanks everyone, for all your suggestions and empathy! That means as much

to me as the medications - even MORE! What would we do without each other???

Love Lana